by Honor James
Goldie frowned and shook her head. No, she wasn’t hearing him right. This couldn’t be happening, right? For several minutes her mouth wouldn’t work, her fears far too great to do anything more than simply sit there and look from Ark to Tor and then Mahon. “And,” she started but stopped, shaking her head. She didn’t have words for the terror that was rolling off her in waves. “And you think they are coming for me don’t you?” she whispered to them. Gulping as she did so.
“The cops think they are coming for all of us. We’ve been getting the majority of their business; we made huge contacts at the event, who basically brushed them off. The fact you work here now and obviously like us better than them, enough to allow us to touch you,” Mahon sighed heavily. “The cops know about why you left the company suddenly, we told them that. We did fudge a bit about our relationship and may have hinted it was actually going on a little longer than it was before you took up a position in the company.”
“We told them you and I have been dating pretty exclusively,” Ark said. “That while I knew you worked for a competitor we kept business separate from our lives. You had your work; I had mine, and the way it was between us. We didn’t tell them we’re all mates, some things human minds can’t always comprehend so it was put into terms they could get. But they figure that’s why they came gunning for you and I at the barbecue.”
“And that’s why Josie’s mom came and picked her up early isn’t it?” They had barely gotten to the office and the girls were locked in Goldie’s office online shopping when Laurie came to pick up Josie. She had been baffled, as had Josie, but when Laurie told her they were going to go to her husband's parents' home Goldie hadn’t thought anything about it. Instead, she had just gone back to work.
Looking up at Arkadios, she smiled, a genuine and true one of affection, “So you drew the short straw on who was dating me exclusively?” she teased. Hell, she had to at this point, it was either that or she was going to break down in hysteria and that simply wouldn’t do. Laying her head on his shoulder, she sighed. “All right. So what do we do now?”
“No short straw at all,” he said softly, hugging her close. “I love you, Goldie, it wasn’t much of a fight in the least. But since we were the two, not there for the first interview it also made some sense. Plus I wanted to do it,” he pressed a kiss to her cheek. “For now, you and I are going to disappear for a little while. Torben and Mahon can handle shit here for a little while, but the cops want to see if anyone happens to move when we do, like we’re being watched. We’re going to have a couple undercover cops following us and we’re going to a safe house that will look like a romantic getaway. At least for a couple of days, any longer than that and we won’t have clients left.”
Goldie sighed and nodded. “I love you, too,” she whispered and patted his chest. “Okay, we will do this.” She looked to Torben and Mahon, “You will both be extra careful as well, right? Promise me nothing will happen to you while we are gone?” she all but begged. “I need you all to be safe. I love you all so much and it would kill me to lose even one of you.”
“We’ll be safe,” Torben said. He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “We’ll have undercovers with us in the office and around the house. We’ll be having two staying there with us as old friends from out of town who heard the news and came to see how we were. Or apparently it’s the story we were told to tell.”
“Okay, as long as you guys will be safe too,” she said with a sigh and closed her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I broke into your house and now have brought trouble and danger into your lives. I’m sorry for doing that to you.”
“This is not your fault,” Mahon said, leaning in. He too reached over to touch her. His hand landing on her wrist and he squeezed. “What those guys chose to do is on them and them alone. They chose to try to get in your pants. They chose to get smart with us in public and then pissy when we didn’t rise to their bait. They chose to do something drastic because they are assholes who cut corners and gouge their clients. If it wasn’t you, Goldie, it would have been some other poor woman and she may not have been as lucky to find someone to help her and care for her.”
“This is very true. I have three amazing men who love me every bit as much as I love them. Maybe one day they will make an honest woman out of me but after all of the danger has passed and we are able to be free and live our lives,” she was teasing... mostly. “Okay, how long do we have before we have to get out of here and head off for our romantic retreat?”
“We have an hour to get to the house and packed. Then we need to be out of there and on the road. So up you go, go grab your purse and we’re gone,” Arkadios said. He kissed her cheek and urged her up to her feet. “Stay in the office area and I’ll come find you as soon as I do a couple things in my office and give my passwords over to the lads.”
“Don’t worry, I wasn’t planning to leave. I will just go to my office, grab my purse, put the iPad back in my drawer, and lock it all up. You guys all know my passwords for everything, so I’m not worried about that.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “I hate this,” she whispered. “I hate that this is all happening.”
“We know.” Hands turned her and she was pressed into Ark’s chest a moment later. The others were there in the next moment and all of her men were holding her. She was safely tucked between all their large, warm bodies. “This will be resolved and we will get our lives back. But for now, we need to do whatever is necessary to get there.”
Goldie took a deep breath and then pulled Torben to her first and kissed him, she didn’t hold back in the kiss. When she released him, she then did the same to Mahon. She licked her lips after the last kiss and looked up at her men. “I love you. Be good. Don’t scare away the temps while we are gone okay?”
“No promises,” Mahon said with a sad smile. He touched her cheek. “You behave and do whatever Arkadios tells you to do. As long as it involves your safety. Anything else you make his life miserable and ensure he keeps those cops pointed in the right direction so you can come home sooner.”
“I will,” she whispered softly. “Just please make sure you guys don’t go through too many people? Please? I would have to send out a whole huge florist shop full of apology bouquets when I get back,” she muttered and touched Mahon’s cheek as well. “I mostly always do everything that Arkadios tells me.” She grinned over her shoulder at him and added, “I only ignore him when I know it's going to get me spanked.” Or something.
“I see a lot of spanking in your future,” Torben chuckled. Leaning in, he kissed her again, “And remember the advice I gave you as well. Might be a good time to test it out since you’ll have the time.”
“Advice? What advice?” Mahon looked over at him.
“Just a few little nuggets of information I thought she’d find amusing and useful.” He gave her another hug and then let her go. “Well, since you two are heading off, I’d better get on the phone for a temp to take over your job for the interim. Be safe, both of you and if you need anything, call. We’ll be there faster than you could believe.”
“Thank you, boys,” she whispered and nodded. Taking a deep breath, she licked her lips and looked to Arkadios. “Let’s get out of here and do what we need to in order to go into hiding,” she whispered.
“Grab your stuff, love. I’ll meet you in your office in a couple minutes.” Leaning in, he kissed her gently, “I love you, Goldie. Go, I’ll only be five minutes at the most,” Ark promised her.
Goldie watched him leave and she shook her head. “I have my everything,” she said to Arkadios and laughed, “This is really going to be hard on him isn’t it?” She was worried about not only Torben and Mahon, but Arkadios as well. “Will he be okay?”
“He’ll be fine, we’ll all be fine. Go and get your things and I will meet you in a few minutes.” Arkadios pushed her gently toward the door and out into the main office. “I’ll be right there, promise.” One more small push and Arkadios moved off toward his office.
Arkadios walked toward her slowly. He had a look on his face that was part apology and part sadness. When he stopped in front of her, he touched her cheek. “Come on, love, let’s get out of here. Torben and Mahon will explain anything that needs to be explained. But we have to get to the house and pack so we can head out. Do we need to stop by your place for anything?”
“No, I’ve pretty much moved in with you guys, remember? The only things left at my place are plants and furniture.” She was going to sublet to someone until her lease was over and then really move in with the guys.
“Just checking. Didn’t want you getting all up my ass over something I didn’t ask. Like the last time,” he rolled his eyes at her. Then he grinned, a much more relaxed smile than earlier. “Let’s get moving. Our escort is more than ready for us and awaiting our departure. I think they just want to get moving so their boss can stop handing them orders and dos and don’ts.”
“Thank you for asking,” she said with a smile. “All right, let’s get going.” Slipping her hand into his, she gave a slight squeeze. “I will just think of this as an early honeymoon. Maybe it will get you guys into thinking about making an honest woman out of me, and get one of you asking me,” she teased. She had to tease or she would break down and cry.
“We’re all a little terrified you’d say no to be honest.” He led her out of the building and to his truck. Once they were moving, he looked over. “But, if you’re really interested,” he smiled at her. “Well then, you’ll just have to wait a little more. Don’t worry though, we’ve got plans for you, sugar.”
“Good. And just so you know,” she reached out and laid her hand on his thigh. “I would never tell you no, Arkadios. You know that. I love the three of you far too much to tell you no or to give up such happiness.”
“We love you too,” he smiled over at her. “Always. No matter what, we’re with you through it all.” He took her hand in his and squeezed her fingers before pressing a kiss to her palm. Then rested their hands on his thigh again, fingers laced as he drove them toward their home.
“Good,” she said with a smile. Turning, she took in a deep breath and again apologized for what she brought into their lives. “I’m so very sorry for all of this. I’ve turned your lives upside down so I really hope I am worth it.”
“You are worth everything, Goldie,” he said quietly. “And again, you did not bring this into our lives. The assholes brought this into our lives when they tried to hurt you, all of us. We will stop them and then we will get on with our lives. We will have our future, babe—a good, happy, and sex filled one.”
“I hope so.” Goldie knew he would never lie to her, and knew he was being fully honest with her. “For life that is a very long and full life. Not just happy and sex filled, but filled with our family as well. The family I’ve adopted from you guys.”
“You can damn well have most of them. Well, except for Josie,” he grinned. “She’s all mine. That kid is amazing, and I’m never giving her up for anyone.” Squeezing her fingers, he shot her a look. “Course, we’re likely to have a few just like her, something I’m looking forward to.”
“Me too. I want children, Ark. So very much. I know I wanted to wait but maybe we should think about starting soon? Well, after this mess is all over and done with?” One thing with this happening, it made her realize life was short and she didn’t want to waste a moment of it.
“We’re going to have some time on our hands. We should at least practice a little. Ensure you’re well versed in the baby making process.” The grin he had on his face said he was looking forward to all of the process. “See what might work best for you and all that.”
“I think that will work wonderfully well for me actually. I think we should practice often. I love practicing.” She was repeating herself, a great deal. “So yes, we will practice a great deal together. While we are on this mini-forced-pseudo-vacation.”
“Hey, I thought this was a mini-forced-pseudo-honeymoon, woman.” He shot her a pout and sighed. “And here I was looking forward to the pseudo-honeymoon sex too. Pseudo-vacation just sounds so exhausting. All the sightseeing, doing things, and so little time to have wild and kinky sex.”
That had her laughing and she shook her head, “Okay, okay. Mini-forced-pseudo-honeymoon. I like the way that sounds better as well. Sounds far more romantic and far sexier.” She squeezed his thigh and added, “As long as whoever our watchers will be and they aren’t in the same home as us, and they can’t see us, we will be golden.”
“I don’t know the arrangement yet, not even sure if they’ve chosen a spot yet. I think they are keeping it fluid in case something changes. But in a couple of hours, we’ll know for sure where we are going and just what we’re getting into. For now, let’s worry on trying not to forget something. With this trip, if we do forget something we’re out of luck. It’s not as if we can run to the local market or mall to pick it up. We can’t be seen once we’re tucked away.”
“All right, don’t worry. We will get everything we need. You pack your things, I will pack mine, and we will get ourselves moving.” Looking up at Ark, she asked again, “And you are certain Tor and Mahon will be all right left here to their own devices? We won’t come home to a kitchen meltdown or anything like that?”
“Well,” his expression stayed flat for a time before he grinned. “Nah, they’ll be fine. They can both cook rather well. While Mahon has issue with the barbecue, he can bake like nobody’s business. Torben can’t boil water to save his life, but he can make casseroles and barbecue like a dream. They will survive and since you won’t be there, I seriously doubt they’ll be worried about vegetables and such during the duration of this mess. Now the office,” he rolled his eyes. “It will likely survive a little better without me there. I’m usually the one who sends the temps packing. But really, if they weren't so incompetent I wouldn’t get so upset with them. Like really, who in their right mind tries to fax a cup of coffee? Not likely what she was doing but because she was a ditz, she fried it right out with her morning java.”
“Damn, sounds like you guys went through some real winners in your time with temps. Good thing you have me now, right?” she teased him. She had to tease because if not, she would cry and it wasn't a suitable option in her books. At all. “Well they will be able to handle the new recruits, I hope. Besides, in my opinion I have the best guy to go on this pseudo-honeymoon with right now?”
“I happen to think so,” he chuckled. “But I’m sure the others would have said the same thing had they been here. And honestly, I’m probably a little biased in my opinion. But all I can say is, I’m here, they’re not. Suckers.” He shot her a big grin as he pulled into the drive leading up to the house. Parking the truck, he got out and waved a hand to the cops. “The doors are open, go on in,” he told them.
She went in ahead of him and up to his room where her clothes were intermeshed with his. It was nice actually, he had given her space in his closet and drawers for her things, and she loved it. “Okay do you have a suitcase or something for us to pack all our things into?”
“Uh, we’ll take two. I know you womenfolk. You always say you can manage with one but we’ll end up with two anyway. So we’ll start with two and we’ll have lots of space for everything.” He slipped past her into the closet and pulled two cases off the shelf. “You can have the big one and any overflow you can toss into the smaller one with my stuff. Just make sure your bottles of goop and shit are in a bag so they don’t leak.”
Rolling her eyes, Goldie pulled out her clothes and began to pack. “What should I pack for?” sh
e asked mid stride. “Hot, cold, snow, rain? This way I don’t have to pack a whole lot of nothing for no reason?”
“Pack for our weather, but take a few items for chillier nights. We won’t need winter jackets or anything like that, not like we’re going to the South Pole. But take a couple pairs of good socks, a sweater or two and some flannel pants in case the nights are cooler. Other than that,” he shrugged. “I’ll keep you warm if need be.”
“And I do so love how you keep me warm,” Goldie said softly. “All right. I got this. You go and do your thing and I will pack my things.” Turning away from him once more, she began packing everything she would need, sliding down the banister to the kitchen and grabbing Ziploc baggies for her shampoo, conditioner, body wash and moisturizer. When her case was packed, she pulled off a couple of pillows, one from Torben’s side, and one from Mahon’s side, and tossed them in the case as well. Zipping it up, she nodded. “All right, I’m ready.”
“Did you just steal the pillowcases?” he asked with a chuckle. He’d been sitting in a chair for the last half hour waiting on her to finish flitting around and packing, his head back. “You do realize they are going to be grumpy when they come home and find them gone right? Course they’ll likely just go and sleep in their rooms instead since we’ll not be here.”